Memory Lane

If you grew up near Detroit, you probably remember many buildings and landmarks that are no longer standing. Although some of these structures have been replaced it's always entertaining to look at old photographs and enjoy some old memories. Lost Detroit by Cheri Y. Gay will help you take a stroll down memory lane. This book is full of old pictures and historical notes about the "Motor City". Cheri has lived around Detroit for over forty years. She is a librarian and has worked as a photo archivist for the Detroit Public Library. DB

My "To Read" List Keeps on Growing

Detroit City is the Place to Be: The Afterlife of an American Metropolis by Mark Binelli is on my must read list.  Just released November 13th the book shows Detroit hitting rock bottom with crime, poverty and ruin and catches a glimpse of Detroits future as a greener, economically diverse (and better functioning) city.  Detroit City Is the Place to Be is one of Publishers Weekly's Top 10 Best Books of 2012.

Next on my list is Justin Cronin's The Twelve.  If you haven't read the first book in this series - do so!  The Passage is an apocalyptic novel of man's own manufacture and the story of a young girl, Amy, who is destined to save the world.  The Passage was named one of the ten best novels of the year (2010) by Time, Library Journal, The Washington Post, NPR and more.

I'm seeing a trend in my 'to read' list.  It looks like I lean towards the best books of the year.  I do have a few other titles on my list including the Oxford Public Library Book Club selection (December 5th meeting at 1:00 pm if you are interested!):  In The Sea There Are Crocodiles Based on the True Story of Enaiatollah Akbari by Fabio Geda - the story of a young ten-year-old boy from a small village in Afghanistan.  When the Taliban takes over his mother moves him to Pakistan but has to leave him.  He makes his way on his own through Iran, Turkey and Greece before he finally gets politcal asylum in Italy at the age of 15.

If you read my earlier post about J.D. Robb you know I'm working my way through the 30 plus books in her In Death series (I'm up to number 13).  On my Overdrive downloadable book list is 101 Things to do With Pudding!  SG

Livin' in the D!

Say Nice Things about Detroit by Scott Lasser is a story about coming home. When David Halpert returns to the metro area to help care for his aging mother he is confronted with the death of a former girlfriend, Natalie and her half-brother, Dirk. In paying his respects to the family of the deceased he is re-introduced to Natalie’s younger sister and the twists and turns of life begin. For those who know the Motor City, many of the places mentioned will resurrect nostalgic memories. Hope is interwoven with the desperate plight of the city and its inhabitants. As the characters heal and grow they offer the reader much hope for the future. DB

Goodbye Ozzie

If you're like me, you're going to miss seeing Red Wings goalie Chris Osgood in the net (or rather, halfway to the blue line). Osgood announced his retirement yesterday, which got me thinking about some of his career highlights. Remember the 2008 Stanley Cup playoffs? Ozzie was put in goal after the Wings' starting goalie, Dominik Hasek, failed to deliver in the first round. He then went on to propel the team all the way to the Stanley Cup, beating Sidney Crosby's Pittsburgh Penguins in the Finals. Relive the excitement in Forever Hockeytown!: How the 2008 Red Wings Reclaimed the Stanley Cup and celebrate Chris Osgood's amazing career. HM

Batter Up

As the weather warms up, the call of ball fields and popcorn gets louder for some of us. In a timely tribute, Lance Parrish collects Detroit Tiger history and shares it in Few and Chosen. It's packed with photos and statistics--just right for getting you in a game state of mind.